Cinema stopping kids in suits from coming in - Minions

[jackstini]

DS & his friend (both 13) had tickets this pm for Minions, Rise of Gru

Like lots of people per TikTok, they dressed up in suits/ties - just for fun
Got to cinema and were told they couldn't come in because of what they were wearing

DS called me upset and DH went down to see if he could sort it. Found 5 grown men standing over them and a few other kids, shouting at them that they needed to leave and they were not allowed in. Kids felt very intimidated

No dress code visible in the cinema or on the website

DH asked if they had misbehaved and was told no, we just don't like this suit thing as some of the people on TikTok have kicked off
DH pointed out, they hadn't kicked off, just wanted to watch the film, so what was the problem. Stoney silence
He took them outside, took their jackets & ties off & they went back in 5 minutes later and were admitted by a different member of staff

Is it just me or is this ridiculous? And pathetic for them to treat kids like that

I really want to complain but wanted the MN population to vote on if you think they were BU or not

YANBU - cinema staff were out of order & I should complain
YABU - don't complain

If you do have teens, aim higher than that. It should be possible for them to go see a film without ruining it for others.

What is even your point here? What would have been an acceptable number of staff?

Teenagers going to teenage- well what exactly are they gaining from ruining others experience of a film other than some likes on social media? What a sad state of affairs, and what crappy parenting to find it funny and not see the big deal.

Wow

I live in a Rough Area as well but its not "Fun"
Fun for the poor Cinema Cleaners is it ?
Fun for the little ones there to watch a Film that is really aimed at Them ?

Fun !!

It's a craze boys are doing. The girls think it's daft!

Take it we were all exemplary teenagers ourselves then? It's ONE FILM, not the first signs of societal collapse. Shame that some littlies have not been able to hear the film but this thread is OTT.

They are out having fun with their friends. Am sure we've all done similar in our time.

Blimey - will try and catch up with all the replies although not going through to tag everyone sorry as there are so many!

No, I have not posted on a fb group

No - I never once thought they were doing it on a whim. As I said in the very first post - yes, they were absolutely doing it per TikTok - we and they knew all about the videos and they thought the dressing up was funny and loved the ridiculousness of that.

There were very few videos showing shrieking/messing around and the 'whole challenge' and they had no intention of doing this & ruining the film.

Not every teenager alive is a 'little shit!'

They are 13, so still kids - and love all the Minions films. To be fair so do I, there's adult humour in there too!

They had no idea that other cinemas had been trashed & yes, those idiots have ruined what was previously a fun trend for a lot of people. (& originally a very clever piece of viral marketing!)

It seems there is a very mixed bag on here of people that have been and seen the fun side and the crappy side - obviously depends on the teenagers

If cinemas are worried about this - and I get now that some might be - and they decide to have a blanket ban then their choice.

BUT then at least post that policy on the website, the fb page & at the door - although the door might be a bit late if you have bought tickets!

(also as ds pointed out - if stupid people do specifically want to go and ruin the film, they will now know to go in jeans and tshirts so they get in...)

I was going to say I agree with the poster who suggested they get parents in of idiotic teenagers and clean up after them. Then I thought no, call the parents and make them make their teenagers clean up!
Completely agree noone should ruin a film for anyone.

My ds has plenty of respect and 100% knows he's not untouchable!

It's a very small local town cinema, 60-70 seats, so thankfully they would never have to deal with a large mob.

We live a few mins walk away and DS waited outside the cinema for DH

Mind boggling at Rocky Horror - they are def not ready for that one yet! 😂

Sounds like a huge power trip to me. Unless they have had riots with kids in suits I really don't see the harm. I would consider complaining like pp said too! X

You behaved like the teens described in some of the posts here?

🙄

As if either the kids or the parents would agree to come and clean up the mess. How very Enid Blyton! 😂

I hope the OP does name the cinema, as I’d be more likely to go there.

Some people on this thread have a very low bar of expectations for teenagers. Thankfully mine are kind and considerate of others. Teens don’t have to be like this…..almost as if someone is trying to convince themselves their shit of a kid is normal.

When I was 14 I was taking ecstacy in abandoned warehouses off the M25 so this seems really fucking tame tbh!

Lots of cinemas around the country have introduced similar policies, ranging from bans on teenagers in suits to requiring all under 18s to be accompanied by a parent (all for this specific movie).

Do you think lots of cinemas nationwide have simultaneously decided to go on an unwarranted power trip, or is it more likely they’ve encountered significant problems and are doing their best to prevent recurrences?

Poor you - such a shit childhood. I can see why you think ruining a cinema trip for others is tame in comparison when you’ve had such a low bar.

We went to see it this afternoon, gang of about 30 lads around 13 caused havoc the whole way through shouting and swearing, chucking stuff. After the film started running behind the screen, shouting and swearing and obviously lots of young kids about. Totally out of order, and honestly, 13-14 year olds watching Minions!! Why?

What do folk want a cinema branch to do?

They may not have long to react to such a potential problem - yes, printing a warning 'Due to x latest TikTok craze we won't be letting in groups of people wearing suits who we believe intend to cause problems'..

That wouldn't stop kids turning up to be turned away at the door.

They almost certainly can't edit their websites to include this information at a moments notice, its something that would need head office and techy involvement - and frankly many would still not see it and show up.

So - they're meant to SUSPECT certain groups intend to cause a problem but let them in anyway.

Then try to get one or two staff members who won't be that much older than the kids involved, to remove troublemakers as they reveal themselves, in large groups, in a situation where groups who don't even know one another ARE likely to gang together.

They can't physically eject them, all they can do is stop the film and ask them to leave and then if they refuse, piss about waiting for security (if they have any) or police (who have better things to do and kids know it).

So even if staff are involved in attempting to stop the disruption, it will still be a disruption, it will still mean the film is still ruined for others attending and people with small children will want to remove them from the screen.

OR...

They could take the info they have, and prevent groups who look like they may be intending to cause trouble, and prevent them from entering in the first place, which is FAR easier, requires far fewer staff and doesn't disrupt the film for customers who have already paid.

I know which I'd prefer my cinema did and I know what I'd do were I a cinema manager!

This is a prime opportunity to educate children that if they want to take part in a trend or craze they may well be judged by the actions of others and they may not like that. They need to be aware of the behaviour of the people they're aligning themselves with!

🤣 excellent. You never rebelled at that age then? Totally calm, respectful and wise at all times? I think that's unusual. Teenagers brains are literally wired different.

When I was 14 I was taking ecstacy in abandoned warehouses off the M25 so this seems really fucking tame tbh!

id rather they were doing that to be honest because at least it doesn’t affect others. I couldn’t give a toss if stupid kids I don’t know take drugs. I do care if they’re wrecking films for others.

i feel sorry for the cinemas who will have had to hand out loads of refunds as well.

DD (16) has been planning to go and see it for ages - long before it was a thing on TikTok.
In her case (and I suspect in the case of other teens) it's because they saw the original Despicable Me and Minions films as younger children and have fond memories/want to go for nostalgia.
DD also went to see Frozen 2 when she was 13 for the same reason.

i certainly didnt get my kicks ruining things for small children, no.

I don’t think many were doing drugs in abandoned buildings when they were 14, and that type of behaviour shouldn’t be used as a yardstick to dismiss other anti-social behaviour.

Yes, given your obvious childhood issues it must be difficult for you to imagine a middle ground between a teenager being calm, respectful and wise at all times and wrecking cinemas and spoiling the film for others.